|
By Lookout Staff
November 9, 2023 -- A homeless serial prowler who is an unregistered sex offender was arrested early Wednesday morning after trying to break into a Santa Monica home in one of the nation's most expensive neighborhoods.
 |
Charles Marcell Newman, 46, was arrested after police officers responded to a call at 3:27 a.m. reporting a prowler in the 200 block of 24th Street near the Riviera Country Club, police said.
The reporting party was one of two off-duty law enforcement officers providing private security services for the homeowner, said Lt. Erika Aklufi, the Police Department spokesperson.
"They observed the subject of the call in the backyard of the home trying to gain entry," Aklufi said. |
"When officers arrived they found the subject being detained by security in the driveway of the residence."
Newman -- who served prison time for similar crimes in Santa Monica in 2012 and 2019 -- is a parolee at large and an out-of-compliance sex registrant, police said.
He is currently under investigation for burglary and trespassing in Los Angeles, according to police.
Newman was the subject of several prowling calls at the same Santa Monica residence in September and on October 31, when he was seen on camera in the backyard trying to open windows, Aklufi said.
"He was captured on surveillance video trying doors and windows around the perimeter of the home as well as trying car door handles," she said.
Detectives identified Newman from the video and placed a WANT in the system for his detention and questioning, Aklufi said.
The home the suspect targeted is in the nation's eighth most expensive zip code -- 90402 -- where the median sale price of a home is $4,489,000 ("North of Montana Remains Among Most Expensive U.S. Zip Codes," November 3, 2023).
In 2012 and 2019, Santa Monica police arrested Newman for burglary, resisting arrest, violation of parole and probation. He was convicted and served time in prison.
Newman is being held at Santa Monica Jail on no bail and is scheduled to appear at LAX Superior Court on Monday, according to the LA County Sheriff's Department Inmate Information Center.
|
